PLASTIC PARADISE

Abstract

Despite its young history, the Indonesian island of Gili Trawangan has undergone numerous transformations, many of which were and continue to be executed by external forces. After the mainland of Lombok was colonized, Gili Trawangan became the home of a small tight-knit Indonesian-Islamic community and a scuba diving paradise. However, since the turn of the 21st century, western developers and party tourists are redefining the human-waste and intercultural relationships on the island. This thesis will demonstrate how western party and leisure tourists, as well as the hotel developers and the government, are threatening the economic, social and natural environment of the region. Through the concept of whitelining, this essay will analyze how modern developments - from microplastics to mega resorts such as the Mandalika project – are used to sustain an outdated social power dynamic that is (re)forging a Plastic Paradise.